South Korea Reports 14 Cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Synopsis

South Korea has reported an additional case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), raising this year's total to 14. The latest case was detected at a farm in Yeongam county. The government is implementing emergency measures to control the outbreak effectively.

Key Takeaways

South Korea has reported a total of 14 FMD cases this year.
The latest outbreak was confirmed at a farm in Yeongam.
FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals but not humans.
Emergency measures are being implemented to contain the outbreak.
South Korea had previously reported FMD cases in May 2023.

Seoul, March 24 (NationPress) South Korea has confirmed a new case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at a local cattle farm, bringing the total number of cases this year to 14, according to the agriculture ministry's announcement on Monday.

The most recent case was identified at a farm located in Yeongam county, approximately 300 kilometers south of Seoul, which houses 31 cows, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, via the Yonhap news agency.

FMD is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cows, pigs, goats, and other cloven-hoofed species, but it does not pose a threat to humans.

This viral infection in livestock leads to fever and the formation of vesicles primarily in the mouth and on the feet. It is among the most transmissible diseases in livestock.

This latest outbreak marks the first occurrence after a two-year hiatus, with the last reported cases of FMD in May 2023.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has instructed relevant ministries to undertake comprehensive preventive measures to control the outbreak promptly.

"The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs must collaborate closely with pertinent agencies to efficiently implement emergency protocols, which include rapid culling, entry controls, testing, and disinfection, as per the emergency response guidelines," Choi stated.

Earlier in January, South Korea imposed an import ban on German pork following an outbreak of the highly contagious FMD in Germany, as reported by Yonhap.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs noted that the ban was enacted after Germany reported its first case of FMD since 1988.

The ministry also anticipates minimal effects on beef exports since transactions are typically arranged by regions.

Last year, South Korea exported 49.5 tonnes of beef valued at $2.9 million to five countries, including Malaysia, Mongolia, and Saudi Arabia.

Seoul has been striving to achieve recognition from the World Organization for Animal Health as an FMD-free country but has been unsuccessful following the disease's outbreak in 2023.